I don't think there's anything more difficult to cope with than hopelessness.
In my opinion, hope isn't something you can conjure up or produce by an act of your will,
yet hope is essential in order not to quit.
There are only two ways that I know to battle hopelessness,
bathing your mind and heart with a relentless input of the truth in God's Word
and spending time in God's presence.
In Isaiah 42:3 God promises that a bruised reed He will not break
and a faintly burning candle He won't quench.
There have been many times in my life when I thought I was going to break,
when I thought my flame was just about to be snuffed out.
Yet, here I am, still standing, still shining.
Just when I've been about to give up, God gives me hope,
not just once in my life, but over and over again.
I don't conjure it up, I don't will it into existence, I don't pull myself up by my own bootstraps,
He comes to me, just in time, with enough hope to keep going.
If you are feeling hopeless today, tell Him.
Pour out your heart to God, ask Him for a fresh touch of hope.
still following,
and Cheryl McCain Photography.
I love God's promises of hope and redemption. We are blessed to find these in His word. Always thankful when you link up at The Weekend Brew.
ReplyDeleteMary, truly the Word has sustained me throughout my jouney. I'm so thankful for it.
DeleteAs usual, you made me smile. Thank you much, Elizabeth. This was a treat.
ReplyDeleteThank you, friend!
DeleteOne way I fight hopelessness is to make sure that I don't allow it to alter my routine, as it were. There are days when I am in too much pain, and feeling too much behind the eight-ball, to want g write another word.
ReplyDeleteThose are the days when I have to do it. It's then a duty, and in the words of the original Iron Man, Rudolf Berthold, duty is all.
When one is bound to the concept that life is really about responsibility, specifically responsibility to others, hopelessness becomes irrelevant.
It doesn't fade, but there is reflected light that relieves its ominous shadow. One can work in the shade; and sometimes, one can see more of the task at hand.
To close with another quote, if I may...let's turn to Churchill..."When in despair, work on in despair."
I agree, Andrew. A big part of victory is to simply refuse to quit.
DeleteThis is so encouraging, Elizabeth. You are right that we can't produce hope all by ourselves, but God does bring it to us through His word and provision. Sometimes He uses others to encourage us and help us to have hope. I'm visiting from #GiveMeGrace.
ReplyDeleteOh, to be one of those who encourage others and help to restore hope!
DeleteThere is no hope without our God. His mercy is new every morning.....Lamentations 3:22-24. We look for Him, we wait. He comes when we call. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeletevisiting from Lisha's Give me Grace post.
Have a good weekend!
I'm so very glad that His mercies are new every morning!
DeleteI've had to lean on God hard in this season so as not to lose hope. He is hope to the hopeless.
ReplyDeleteYes, He is our hope! I know this road has been so long and wearying for you.
DeleteFunny how God works this way, along with people he puts in our path. I have recently been in that "hopeless" state......and just then along comes people like you dear Elizabeth. Other things/people have found me....the book One Thousand Gifts, Illustrated Faith, and She Reads Truth. I truly believe I stumbled onto all this through the Lord Himself.
ReplyDeleteThanks for joining me in Scripture and a Snapshot.
Beautiful BEAUTIFUL image Elizabeth and verse too!
Cheryl, what a blessing you have been as well! I love One Thousand Gifts and She Reads Truth. I'll have to find out more about Illustrated Faith!
DeleteI so agree that hopelessness makes everything more difficult. In fact, it makes the hard, harder. Conversely, hope can change everything and even when circumstances haven't budged, it there is hope in our heart, we feel more empowered to endure. Love this message and love your blog.
ReplyDeleteThank you for stopping by TheCheerioTrail earlier and leaving encouragement for me.
Your neighbor at TheWeekendBrew!
Christi
You are so right, hope and endurance are definitely connected.
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